4A |
WEDNESDAY EDITION
| JANUARY 13, 2021
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
NED HICKSON , EDITOR
| 541-902-3520 | NHICKSON @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
Opinion
The First Amendment
C
ongress shall make no law respect-
ing an establishment of religion or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or
abridging the freedom of speech, or of the
press, or the right of the people peaceably
to assemble, and to petition the Govern-
ment for a redress of grievances.
“I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.” —Thomas Jefferson (1800)
USPS# 497-660
LETTERS
Inclusiveness, compassion
and positivity
I’m sure that in Bruce Jarvis’ let-
ter (“Honest Debate Needed For
Better Decisions,” 1-9-21) he didn’t
really mean that if anyone wants
“inclusiveness and positivity” that
they need to leave Oregon or Flor-
ence.
He mentions that “our town”
was built by loggers and fisherman.
That is certainly true but this coun-
try was also built by robber bar-
ons who had little compassion or
concern for those very loggers and
fishermen — only for their own
pockets and bottom line.
I don’t know exactly which letters
to the editor Mr. Jarvis is referring
to, but I hope it’s not those recent
letters objecting to the annexation
of Oceana Drive and certain par-
cels into the City of Florence.
If it is, then I don’t see any strong
debate that he mentions allowed
by COF Planning Commission.
In fact, any comments and evi-
dence allowed in (virtual hear-
ings and meetings) on that subject
have been cut off in mid sentence
or not audible to the hundreds of
residents that have no say or vote
in the matter and are being totally
ignored.
So all, and especially the Flor-
ence City Council, let’s have some
inclusiveness, positivity and com-
passion for the hundreds of older
citizens that are going to be so neg-
atively impacted by this possible
annexation that not one resident
of the Oceana and adjoining streets
and subdivisions wants.
Even though we do live north
of Oregon’s southern border, don’t
you think we’re entitled to that ?
—Jeff Talbot
Florence
Likely only the beginning
of the mayhem
I had always thought of Flor-
ence as a very liberal town, so I was
shocked to see in the Siuslaw News
general election results that Trump
was so heavily supported by those
in the community.
It is interesting to consider that,
statistically, a neighbor random-
ly spouting off about Trump may
very likely be complaining to a
Trump supporter. The theory that
the election was stolen may not get
as much legal traction as the Rus-
sian collusion theory, but it is very
real in the minds of tens of millions
of Americans.
What we saw in the Capital last
week may likely be only a begin-
ning of the mayhem. Many of the
74 million Trump supporters are
very angry and unlikely to yield.
Biden cannot unite the country
as Americans by bashing them and
Trump. One must remember that
Weather Underground bombed
many federal buildings in an angry
attempt to push the country left.
Imagine what might be done to
push it back? Those gloating about
a win may want to consider the
prize they have won, an attempt to
govern a very divided people.
—Bill Shepard
Mapleton
Show some respect
I fi nd it telling that even the local
PUD had the awareness to lower
the fl ag out of respect for the offi -
cer murdered while defending the
capital building from domestic ter-
rorism.
But not our City Hall.
So Mayor, do blue lives matter?
Show some respect for those who
have fallen defending our Democ-
racy.
—Edward Gunderson
Florence
Th e message of Rufus Valentine
our hands.
I’d dealt with worse
things.
The complaints started
soon after we opened.
Since our restaurant was
As I’ve mentioned be-
fore, I lived in the South
for 10 years, with six of
those years spent in the
suburbs of Atlanta. In the
early 1990s, I was a restau-
rant chef operating in one
of Georgia’s largest shop-
ping malls — three stories
of glass, sale banners and
merchants spanning six
football fields’ worth of
mall space.
As you can imagine,
I’ve dealt with as many
personalities as there are
seats in a 280-capacity
dining room. The fact that
Rufus Valentine dug such
a deep groove in my mem-
ory should tell you a little
something about the man’s
character.
The first time I saw Ru-
fus Valentine was during
the Atlanta Braves’ heyday
in February of 1992, when
all of Atlanta was antici-
pating the spring — and a
run at the World Series.
Essentially, you could be
completely naked; but as
long as you had a Braves
cap on you were consid-
ered properly attired by
most Atlantans.
So, when Rufus ap-
peared in his red tights,
heart-shaped wings, and
Braves cap at the west
entrance of the Lenox
Square mall, I and most
others assumed he was
there to express his love
for Atlanta’s baseball team
— at least until I saw the
bow and arrows.
But even then, I could
see that he was harmless.
The arrows in his quiver
were tipped with foam
rubber —red, of course —
and in the shape of hearts.
Considering the date,
I made the connection
and realized we had a
Braves-loving Cupid on
dried to the point of split-
ting. He gave me an appre-
ciative nod and sipped,
then blurted “fettuccini
Alfredo.” He laid the menu
down and pointed to the
Valentine, that’s exactly
what happened.
When my shift ended,
it was near dusk. Along
the sidewalks, automat-
ed lamps had started
humming to life. As I
approached the parking
tower, I noticed flashes
of red and blue spilling
Ned Hickson
from the shadows of the
underground level where
I was parked. The closer
situated closest to the mall item, as if I wouldn’t know I got, the more patrol cars
I saw.
entrance, we got the brunt it otherwise.
“Coming right up,” I
of unhappy mall dwellers.
At the edge of the drive,
said, and took the menu.
yellow crime scene tape
“Hey, there’s some guy
had been strung. Taking
shooting people with rub- As I turned to ring in his
ber arrows out there,” one order, I saw him reach for a spot among a crowd of
onlookers, I saw a white
of them said, brandishing his quiver.
“Hey,” I said, one hand
sheet — and the callused
the arrow in question and
on his drawing arm.
hand of Rufus Valentine
rubbing his cheek.
“Here’s the deal. No
protruding from beneath
With security nowhere
matchmaking until after
it. Next to him, his wings
to be found, I decided to
lunch.”
lay in a crumpled pile.
settle the matter myself
He studied me for a
I later learned that
and strode out the door
moment, then set his
Rufus Valentine — born
— and was immediately
bow on the counter. “I’m
Rufus Jones in 1936 —
tagged.
no matchmaker. I’m just
had left the mall that day
“Got you! Spread the
love, brother,” Rufus said, tryin’ to spread the love — and taken his message to
one brother, one sister, at
as if he’d tossed me a box
the parking garage. It was
a time.”
there that he encountered
of chocolates instead of
“That’s a nice sentiment; a street gang and attempt-
nailing me with a rubber
just don’t do it in here,
arrow.
ed to “spread the love.”
OK?” I said and released
He met the faces of prej-
“Excuse me, but you’ll
his arm.
have to stop with the
udice and hatred instead.
arrows. My customers are
I think everyone has
With the approach of
said things that they wish Martin Luther King Day,
complaining,” I said.
In that same instant, he they hadn’t. In the top
he always comes to mind.
plugged a passerby who
10 of my own regrettable
And, also, no small
measure of guilt. Had I left
turned and gave me a dirty phrases, that one ranks
look, spouting something right up there. First,
him alone to do his work,
because of my tactics
or brought him lunch,
about restaurant promo-
to control him. Second,
things might have turned
tions getting out of hand.
because he called me on
A sudden ebb in the
out differently.
Even though he’s no
shopping current allowed it. And third, because I
wouldn’t get the chance to longer here to sling his
me to grab his attention.
take it back.
“Hey, it’s almost noon.
arrows, I hope we can
take his message to heart
With the smell of par-
How about lunch on me?”
— and spread the love:
mesan and cream sauce
“What’cha got?”
“Come in and find out,” in the air, this obviously
one brother, one sister at
a time.
I said, ushering him inside hungry man stood from
the counter, grabbed his
and up to the counter in
hopes of containing him
bow and quiver, and left
Note: I originally wrote
through the lunch rush.
the counter.
this editorial in 1998
Sitting there at one of the
“People need love more
stools, his wings protrud- than I needed fettuccini
during my first year at
Siuslaw News. It’s my
ing from either side of the Alfredo,” he said, and ex-
way of honoring Rufus
chair back, he drew more
ited the restaurant. When
than a few stares.
he kept going, I consid-
Valentine and carrying on
his message — a message
Handing him a soda, I
ered myself lucky.
that seems particularly
noticed that his dark black
He could become some-
hands were worn and cal- one else’s headache.
important on many levels
at this moment.
lused. His fingernails had
Unfortunately for Rufus
From the Editor’s Desk
Copyright 2021 © Siuslaw News
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WHERE TO WRITE
Pres. Donald Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
TTY/TDD Comments:
202-456-6213
www.whitehouse.gov
Oregon Gov.
Kate Brown
160 State Capitol
900 Court St.
Salem, Ore. 97301-4047
Governor’s Citizens’ Rep.
Message Line:
503-378-4582
www.oregon.gov/gov
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden
221 Dirksen Senate Office
Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5244
541-431-0229
www.wyden.senate.gov
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley
313 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3753
FAX: 202-228-3997
541-465-6750
www.merkley.senate.gov
U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio
(4th Dist.)
2134 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6416
541-269-2609
541-465-6732
www.defazio.house.gov
State Sen. Arnie Roblan
(Dist. 5)
900 Court St. NE - S-417
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1705
FAX: 503-986-1080
Email: Sen.ArnieRoblan@
oregonlegislature.gov
State Rep.
Caddy McKeown
(Dist. 9)
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1409
Email: rep.caddymckeown
@oregonlegislature.gov
West Lane County
Commissioner
Jay Bozievich
125 E. Eighth St.
Eugene, OR 97401
541-682-4203
FAX: 541-682-4616
Email: Jay.Bozievich@
co.lane.or.us